Electric regulator



(No Model.) I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. E. SAWYER 8B R. STREET.

ELECTRIC REGULATOR.

No. 245,976. Patented Aug. 23,1881.

77 2772 6 was N. PETERS. Pmnu-Lnhu m lwr, Wnhin ion. D. c,

(No Model.) Sheets-Sheet 2 W. E. SAWYER & R. STREET.

ELECTRIC REGULATOR.

No. 245,976. I Patented Aug. 23,1881.

5 mphor. Walhingiom 0. c.

11 NITCED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM E. SAVVYER AND ROBERT STREET, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNORS TO THE EASTERN ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF MIDDLE- TOWN, CONNECTICUT.

ELECTRIC REGULATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 245,976, dated August 23, 1881.

Application filed November 22, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, WILLIAM E. SAWYER and R0131. STREET, citizens of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Regulators; and We do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Our invention relates to regulators for electric lights.

The object-of the invention is to save power when it is not required to generate currents.

In Letters Patent of the United States No.

230,345, dated July 20, 1880, there is shown an automatic regulator for electric-light circuits operated by a double electric engine. It is well'known that a regulator is an important .feature of a lighting system, and it must be 2 5 certain in its operation. It .is equally well known that electric engines are to a certain extent unreliable.

In our present invention we dispense with electric engines as the motive power and em- 0 ploy ahydraulic apparatus.

The details of construction of the several parts of the regulator will be hereinafter more fully set forth in the specification and pointed out in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figures 1 and 2 are side elevations of the regulator. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the regulator, showing also the generator and circuits. Fig. A is a vertical section of the regulator, and Fig. 5 a top View of the same.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, F is a metallic base supporting the cylinder D, provided with a flange, G, and open at the top. Closely fitting in this cylinder is a second inverted cylinder, (3, to which,in its turn, is fitted 45. a water-tight stationary piston-head, I, held in place by tube H. When wateris forced through tube H the inverted cylinder C is caused to rise. When the water is allowed to escape cylinder C falls by its own weight.

Insulated on one side of the cylinder D by 5o insulating-strips Y is a grooved metallic connecting-strip, E. Insulated on the other side of the cylinder by similar insulating-strips Y are eighteen pieces, E,held in place by screws E. In the grooves thus formed the contactarms A A slide. These contact-arms are pivoted in cross-pieces B, fastened to the top of cylinder C, and the pressure of their contact ends it is regulated by means of set-screws g and coil-springf. The grooves in E E serve to keep the cylinder in position, and the op posing pressures of A and A, actuated by the same spring,obviate any tendency of the cylinder C to hug to one side of the containingcylinder D.

Z are insulated wires connecting with the pieces E, and whose function will be explained hereinafter.

In Fig. 4; we have shown the internal. arrangement of the regulator. K is an electromagnet passing through the piston-head I, one endof the coil of which is connected to the metal and the other end of which, L, passes outward by a water-tight insulated joint made in any manner desired. M is the armature, and N the armature-lever pivoted in Q. The water actuating the cylinder C passes in by way of tube H and opening H. The water is allowed to escape by way of opening S through piston-head and lower pipe, J. P is a coiled 8o spring to force the armature M away from magnet K when the latter is not energized. The opening H is closed by projection O on armature-lever N, and the opening S is closed by projection R.- These may be entirely of metal, nicely fitted, or of leather or rubber. When magnet K is energized H is closed and S is open. When the magnet is not energized the reverse is the case.

Referring now to Fig. 3, in which we have 0 shown one entire circuit, W is a small generator of electricity energizing the magnet T of the generator by which the lighting-circuit is operated. We have not shown the generator T as constructed, because the same constitutes no part of our present invention, and because it is more convenient to illustration to show the same in the manner we have. U is the rotating armature of generator T. V is a relaymagnet. From one side of the coil of armature U the current flows to the point. From the other side itflows through the coil of relaymagnet V, shunted by resistance i, and outward through lamps e c e to the point. The armature of relayV, attached to lever a, and retracted by spring b, makes contact when drawn forward with set-screw c, and is stopped in its backward motion by set-screw d. X is a galvanic battery or other generator of electricity.

The objectof our invention is to save power when it is not required to generate a current. Thus, when agiven number of lamps is in circuit the magnet T is energized by generator W to the required extent, and if more are introduced itis morepowerf ull y energized, proper regulating and governing devices, not shown, being attached to the engine. The coils of magnet T are divided into eighteen sections, and a connection with each section is made with a grooved contact-piece, E, of the regulator, the circuit of the charging-generator W being by way of E to A and A to E, and the coils of the magnet T in accordance with the piece E upon which A is hearing. Thus, when but littlecurrent is required A falls and cuts out a proportionate number of the coils of magnet T, and when more current is required A rises and introduces additional coils, thus increasing the magnetization of T, and consequently the current generated by its armature U.

The relay-lever a is adjusted so as to give the desired current for a lamp. It will then be maintained in vibration or in equilibrium between the stops c ('1. Should a lamp be introduced, thus increasing the resistance of the circuit and calling for more current, the lever a falls off to d, the regulator armature Nrises, opening S is closed, opening H opened, and water flows in, thus raisiugcylinderOand contact-arm E, whereby "more of the coils of T are introduced in the circuitof W, there is greater magnetization, and more current is generated. Vith the reverse operation the reverse action takes place. Practically, the arm A is constantly rising and falling between two of the pieces E. We do not limit ourselves to this particular arrangement, however. We may i11- troduce resistances in the circuit of W in place of cutting out sections of the coils of magnet T, and we may attach the cylinder 0 to a valve, regulating the flow of steam into the engine, or otherwise arrange it to operate to increase and decrease the speed of the generati n g-arm ature U, as required, as well as to couple sections of magnetic coils in circuit.

We have shown eighteen pieces, E, on the regulator; but it is obvious that we may omploy any number of such pieces.

WVe may employ steam, air, or other pressure, as well as water, and may employ an ordinary steam cylinder and piston, with proper magnetic valves, so that the motion both ways shall be positive, instead of one way being by gravity, as shown.

The shunt i around relay V we find useful in preventing the pulsations of the current being felt by the relay.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Pat cut, is-

1. In an electric distributing system, the combination, with two or more electriclamps, of an electro-magnet or other apparatus electrically energized, operating to open and close the valves of hydraulic circuit controlling mechanism, and thereby to regulate the supply of current to the system, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. In an electric regulator, as described, the combination, with circuit-ohan ging mechanism connected to the upper cylinder, of hydraulic mechanism, substantially as described, a piston-head having suitable valves, and an electro-magnct to open and close the same.

3. In a regulator for electric lamps, the combination, with a relay-magnet in the light circuit energized by the generator of electricity which supplies the lamps, and adapted to open and close the circuit, including a local magnet controlling a valve or valves, of a piston and cylinder mechanism controlling the field-circuit of the generator, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In an electric regulator, as described, the combination, with a relay-magnet in the lampcircuit, a shunt around such magnet, and an armature-lever controlling the flow of water to the movable cylinder of a hydraulic circuitcontrolling mechanism, actuating a contactarm which traverses contact-pieces connected with the generator, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. In an electric distributing system, the combination of a generator, W, operating to charge the magnet of a second generator, a system of lamps, a relay-magnet in the lightcircuit, a current-regulating apparatus, and a magnet to control the same in a local circuit controlled by said relay-magnet, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In an electric regulator, the combination, with a generator of electricity, a stationary cylinder provided with an opening for the egress of water, a movable cylinder provided with a contact-arm traversing insulated contact-pieces connected to coils of the generator, and a perforated piston-head having an openin g for the ingress of water, of an electromagnet and an armature provided with projections fitting the perforations in the pistonhead, substantially as and for the purpose set tricity, of a movable cylinderprovided with forth. adjustable contact-arms A A, as set forth. :0 7 In an electric regulator, the combination In testimony whereof we affix our signatures with a base, J, and a fixed cylinder, having on in presence of two witnesses. 5 one side a stationary contact-plate, to which W. E. SAWYER.

one pole of the generator is attached, and on Witnesses: ROBT. STREET. the opposite side insulated contact-pieces oon- LEONARD SAWYER,

nected with coils of the generator of eleo- GALEN O. THATGHER. 

